Following President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s visit to Maiduguri, the Federal Government has initiated an assessment of the devastating effects of recent floods on Borno State’s livestock sector.
The Federal Ministry of Livestock Development (FMLD), led by Permanent Secretary Dr. Chinyere Akujobi, is working to determine the extent of the damage and offer support to affected farmers.
In response to Tinubu’s directive, an Expert Working Group (EWG) has been deployed to conduct a thorough evaluation and provide recovery strategies.
The group is collaborating with Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum and key stakeholders from the livestock value chain.
The Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES), a World Bank-assisted program, has also set up a model veterinary hospital to offer veterinary services, training, and emergency response, aiming to enhance the sector’s resilience.
The assessment will shape future interventions to support livestock farmers and aid Borno’s economic recovery.
According to Dr. Akujobi, “the urgency and concern expressed by President Tinubu highlights the government’s commitment towards ameliorating the consequences of the disaster on the livestock industry.
According to Permanent Secretary Akujobi, the FMLD, understanding the need for a ‘livestock oriented’ component in Disaster Management, had set up an Expert Working Group (EWG) to work out a viable and sustainable template of disaster response and management for the livestock sector. The Group is therefore tasked with undertaking detailed, on the spot assessment of the extent of damage wreaked on the livestock sector, while proffering immediate, short, medium and long-term measures aimed at supporting stakeholders in the sector.
The EWG which consists of veterinarians, animal scientists, Agricultural Economists and stakeholder engagement experts* accompanied the Permanent Secretary on the Mission to Borno, where she held meetings with the State Governor Prof Babagana Zulum as well as the Shehu of Borno, who both recognized the challenges foisted on the State by the disaster while emphasizing the importance of a specific recovery plan aimed at the livestock sector.
The delegation also held meetings with representatives from different segments of the livestock value chain, gaining first-hand insight into the hardships experienced by livestock farmers and other value chain actors in the industry. These stakeholders shared their experiences of losses and challenges, calling for government support to help them rebuild their livelihoods and sustain their families.
To address the immediate needs of livestock farmers, the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES) – a World Bank assisted Program – is proactively setting up a model veterinary hospital This facility will provide veterinary care, act as an Emergency Operation Centre, offer training opportunities, and support private veterinary practices. “These initiatives aim to enhance the resilience of the livestock sector,*protect animal and public health* Akujobi reiterated.
The assessment process will ultimately contribute valuable insights for developing effective interventions to assist the livestock sub-sector’s post-disaster recovery” Akujobi stated, noting that “by implementing holistic livestock-targeted solutions, we will be rebuilding the livelihoods of affected livestock farmers, thereby contributing to the resilience and economic recovery of the state and country at large”
The Permanent Secretary noted that, as efforts progress, collaboration among critical stakeholders – Government (both federal, state and local), Private Sector, and the Development Partner community – will be critical for success.